# fink

/ˈfɪŋk/ (US) · /fˈɪŋk/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fink
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

someone who tells a secret to the police or a boss to get others in trouble. It is a very negative word for a person who betrays their friends or group.

For teachers: an informer or someone who betrays a group's secrets to an authority figure. Often carries a strong pejorative connotation of disloyalty within a social or criminal circle.

## Examples

- Nobody likes a fink who tells on their friends.
- The gang suspected there was a fink among them after the police arrived exactly when the shipment was delivered.
- In the high-stakes world of corporate espionage, being labeled a fink can end a career more quickly than any official legal reprimand ever could.

## Usage notes

- Informal and derogatory; frequently used in mid-20th century American English contexts.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.